Today, the National Partnership marks three years of its Business Working Group for Gender Equity with fourteen leading companies spanning across various industries. The National Partnership will continue to work closely with these businesses on issues of gender equity particularly as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and women in the workforce.
The group is primarily focused on advancing paid family and medical leave policies, equal pay, accommodations for pregnant workers and preventing and addressing workplace sexual harassment. The need for paid leave is even more urgent as Americans meet the demands of work and family.
The National Partnership, celebrating its 50th year of advocating for equitable workplace policies that advance women’s economic security, will continue to work with these companies in a year-long commitment to deepen their understanding of key gender equity issues, including internal best practices and the state and federal policy landscape. The Partnership will also work to connect businesses with issue experts and other stakeholders; and promote shared learning and new partnerships.
The Business Working Group’s commitment to protecting and promoting gender equity is elevated through the lens of the pandemic in which women, particularly women of color, have been forced out of the workforce to care for children and loved ones. The National Partnership will work with members to advise on internal corporate policies that adequately address this disparity and advocate for broader public policy solutions.
Quotes from Members of the Business Working Group:
Dan Fishbein, M.D., President of Sun Life U.S.: “It is time for all Americans to have paid family and medical leave. We’re pleased to join with the National Partnership for Women & Families to advance this and other important public policies that could help so many. We have enjoyed collaborating with the National Partnership in recent years and are excited to become even more involved in this critical work.”
Anna Walker, Vice President, Public Affairs, Levi Strauss & Co.: “The past year has underscored policy gaps that set working women back by three decades, weakening our businesses, our economy and our country. We look forward to working with peers and policy makers to pass paid medical and family leave to build back a more resilient economy and society.”
Louis Vega, President — Dow North America and Vice President — Government Affairs: “Dow is proud to be a part of the National Partnership’s Business Working Group for Gender Equity. Ensuring the talents and unique perspectives of women are included at every level of our company is key to our success. While we’ve made great strides in gender equity, there is more to do, and Dow is taking intentional actions like enhancing our paid parental and family leave programs. We look forward to continuing our work on the issue of gender equity.&rqduo;
Louise Pentland, Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer, PayPal: “The pandemic has illuminated the many disproportionate challenges women in the workforce face and the critical importance of maintaining their economic security. Economic justice is core to PayPal’s mission, and this includes advancing gender equity and women’s economic empowerment. We are proud to join with the National Partnership for Women and Families as part of the Business Working Group for Gender Equity to eliminate the disparities women face by advancing meaningful changes in public policy.”
Business Working Group for Gender Equity member companies:
- Adobe
- Airbnb
- Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
- Chobani
- Deloitte
- Dow
- Levi Strauss & Co.
- L’Oréal USA
- Microsoft
- Patagonia
- PayPal
- Sun Life
